Public opinion risk perception of decision makers’ in transboundary watershed emergency water supply

• Published in: Water science & technology. Water supply Vol. 24; no. 4; pp. 961 - 971
• Main Authors: Wang, Chunbao, Zhou, Haiwei, Liu, Liming, Zhang, Yukuo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London IWA Publishing 01.04.2024
• Subjects: Data analysis; Decision making; Drought; Emergencies; Emergency management; Emergency preparedness; Grounded theory; grounded theory research; Hydroelectric power; influencing factors; Interviews; Methods; Perception; Public opinion; public opinion risk perception; Qualitative research; Research methods; Resource management; Risk perception; transboundary rivers; Transboundary waters; water resource management; Water resources; Water resources management; Water shortages; Water supply; Watersheds; China
• ISSN: 1606-9749; 1607-0798
• DOI: 10.2166/ws.2024.056

ABSTRACT In recent years, the number of public opinion risks related to sudden transboundary drought events has continued to increase. Research on the perception of public opinion risks has become an indispensable and increasingly important part of emergency management research in transboundary watersheds. Based on relevant literature and interview materials, an exploratory theoretical construction was conducted using the grounded theory research method. The research results indicate that four main categories of public opinion risks, namely, political, economic, ecological and environmental, and socio-cultural, have a significant impact on the perception of public opinion risks among decision-makers in transboundary watershed emergency water supply. The formation mechanisms of decision-makers’ perception of public opinion risks vary in each of these four categories. This research not only enriches the relevant research on the influencing factors of decision-makers’ perception of public opinion risks in theory but also provides decision-making reference and guidance for transboundary watershed water resource management in practice.